There are so many methods to keep our health and figure in check. I have tried tea-toxing, juice cleansing and even specially formulated breakfast drinks. Here's a new one which I hadn't heard of up until now – slimming jelly!

It is not technically a detox, but it's main purpose is to help maintain and aid weight loss.

Developed by Swiss Biotechnologies International in Geneva, Switzerland, the +Centa Svélte Slender Jelly is definitely one of the easiest weight management supplements in the market. I have had the privilege to review a box, and let me break it down into sections for you.

HOW DO YOU TAKE IT?
It works by taking 2 sachets a day – one before breakfast and one before dinner. So simple! I think what drew me to this product was the fact that it was so easy – no hot water and cups needed, or any pre-prepared juices that needs to be carried around in a chiller. The sachets are so purse friendly, you can easily pop one in your bag to bring out with you. Serving size is quite small, at only 12g, so eating it literally took me seconds. *om nom nom*

WHAT IS IN IT?
Key ingredients in this product includes Garcinia Cambogia Extract, Acai Berry Extract and L-Carnitine – they make up a cocktail that is full of antioxidants (acai berry), an agent to block sugar & starches from turning into fat (garcinia cambogia, the extract from a type of tamarind) and also an appetite suppressant (L-carnitine). The other ingredients consist of young honey orange extract and purple tea – which I think contributes to its flavor and color. They are produced using their Max Effect slimming technology which allows the product to burn and stop fat from forming in the body, as well as stops excessive urges to eat for up to 24 hours.

Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 12g (per sachets)
Serving Per Pack: 20 sachets
Per Serving 12g
Energy 4.1kcal
Carbohydrate 2.63g
Protein 0g
Fat 0g
Dietary Fibre 1.6g

Each sachet is fat-free, which is great and has some dietary fibre to help a little with bowel movement. There is quite an amount of natural sugar, but it isn't exactly clear as to how much.


SO, WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?
First of all, the texture is jelly, but it has small particles within that gives off that feeling like when you're eating chia seeds. They're small but crunchable, if you know what I mean? As for the flavor, it was quite sweet. I was surprised and enquired to see if there were any added sugar. There isn't, the sweetness derives from the natural fruit sweetness that comes in the form of fructose (fruit sugar) which is okay in small amounts. Two sachets a day gives me that sugar fix, and I found myself actually not craving sugar at all throughout the day. The flavor reminds me of berries, which I can only assume is what acai berry tastes like, since I have never tasted an actual acai berry before. It's quite similar to blueberries, in my opinion. Overall, the flavor and texture are both pleasant, provided you like jelly and berries.

ANY RESULTS AFTER?
Yes, and no. Let me explain myself.

First of all, I found that it has no effect whatsoever when it comes to curbing appetite (which the official site claims to last up to 24 hours). Perhaps the jelly is too little and that amount of L-carnitine has no impact on me. I still find myself getting hungry every 2-3 hours after a meal, so it definitely only helped with curbing my sugar craving.

Secondly, I am working out 3-4 times a week, and eating clean for almost every meal while trying this out. Therefore, it goes hand-in-hand with helping me lose some weight (which I did) and I am pretty happy with the results. It's not major weight loss, but I have shed water weight and my tummy feels much trimmer and I can ease better into tighter jeans.


If you want to give it a go, +Centa Svélte is available at all leading pharmacies in Malaysia, retailing at RM95.29 for a box of 20 sachets. Check out their website and Facebook page for more info.

Detoxing is very crucial to keep your bodily functions smooth and cleansed. Some people do it through juice detoxing, herbal tea detox and sometimes via pills or medication.

There's no right or wrong to any detox method, it is your preference. However, if you need a quick and easy way of detoxing (without having to juice your veggies 4 times a day), then Yogurugen is the perfect solution for you.

A product of Japan, it is made with a formula that cleanses the colon which leads to the following effects:

• Detoxification
• Replenishment of good bacteria
• Weight loss (reduces bloating)
• Strengthened immune system
• Skin improvement
• Better digestive system
• Prevent constipation

Isn't the packaging too cute? The Japanese have a way of making even the most vile imagery (the poop) look cute – and yes that is poop. So to start your detox, all you have to do is to mix a cup of lukewarm water with a sachet of Yogurugen, mix and drink it.






It's orange flavored, so it's really easy to take in. Within an hour, you'll start to have the urge to 'pay a visit to the oval office for a meeting' – if you know what I mean. It's best you stay home for a day if you are going to detox, because you will need to be best friends with your 'oval throne' for quite a few sessions. I'm not kidding – it won't be cool to be dashing off to the loo all the time if you are, say, in the mall or something.

By the next day though, you'll feel pretty good. I'd recommend anyone to take this after an especially heavy session of 'bad food'. Clean all that bad stuff out with Yogurugen and your colon will thank you for it. This product is even deemed safe for pregnant women and children, and doesn't harbour any side effects.



A box of 5 sachets retails for RM68 at all SaSa outlets near you.

It was one of those nights where I was craving for something soothing, so that I can sleep easily after I'm done with all my blog work. Alas, I'm very sensitive to caffeine (even a little) and drinking teas at night usually make me fall into a restless sort of sleep – you know, the kind where you're so tired you could nod off immediately, and yet your mind whispers in intervals, "hey, what's that sound?" or "what should I wear tomorrow?" It's just hard to nod off completely.

So I had a stroke of genius. (But okay, many others probably had thought of this sooner) I have a bunch of fresh spearmint leaves in the fridge, which I was planning to add to my smoothies, so I took a few sprigs from the bunch.




ALL YOU NEED ARE
1 cup freshly boiled water
2 sprigs mint

Just peel every leaf off each sprig, and add them into your cup of hot water. Leave to steep for about 5 minutes, then use a spoon to scoop them out. Or like me, you can leave the leaves in for an extra minty flavor – and I like to chew on them as well so it doesn't bother me to have leaves with every few mouthfuls. Mint is very great for cleansing the system and it is perfect to use as a detox for your bowels once a week.





It's very refreshing and not overly minty – I am so loving this new discovery. I'm even seriously considering growing my own mint sprigs so that I can have an even fresher cup of mint tea.

Enjoy!

If you've been reading my blog, you probably caught the post on my review of TruDtox. It is a Swiss herb tea, that helps you detox in the gentlest way possible. As per my review, everything that's bad, comes out within the next 7 to 10 hours, and you will feel amazing right after. Finishing that entire box of tea, it felt so great that I had to get myself another box.

Now who wants to alleviate nasty symptoms of toxicity like these?

• Overeating
• Bloatedness
• Constipation
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Allergies
• Skin problems (acne) 
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Sluggishness
• Mood swings
• Aches and pains

I'm sure you do. Every girl hates bloating and that feeling of sluggishness. A lot of my readers who read my review asked: Did you lose any weight?



Honestly, just a little. Weight loss is minimal if you just take the tea on its own, without doing anything. The TruDtox tea, is NOT a miracle product. Now, the key is to use the tea to aid your weight loss program, which means you also need to eat clean and work out, and drink lots of water. Need a little help in that department? Please check out my get-healthy game plan that could help you get started, as there are a lot of other useful links within that post itself so, read up!

For myself, I felt less bloated. Especially after workouts, when I lose more water than I consume, my body tends to store water to avoid dehydration, and that leaves me with an annoying bloat. Taking TruDtox, the bloat is a lot more minimal and I feel less like a camel carrying water within me. It did cause me to need the toilet immediately after my workout, but that's fine.






So, for this giveaway, I am giving away 20 sachets of TruDtox, one for each reader to try. To win, just complete this in the comment form: "I would like to try TruDtox because..." (and your email)

Simple enough, no? Winners will be notified by email. This contest ends August 2nd.


* This contest is open to readers only, not bloggers (you can contact TruDtox to organize your own giveaway on your blog, as they want to reach out to more non-bloggers).

Getting a detox once in a while is great for the body. However, we sometimes neglect our detox program, allowing toxins from the food we eat and the air we breathe, clog up our systems. Some of the reasons people are inconsistent with their detox programs are; the lack of time or that they find it too troublesome.

By not detoxing, you are letting toxins affect your body and would find yourself facing all these issues: Overeating, bloatedness, constipation, gastrointestinal upset, allergies, skin problems, acne, headaches, tiredness, sluggishness, mood swings and even aches and pains.

What if I told you, that there's an easy way to detox – without any big changes needed in your everyday life, no hassle, and no extra time required? And that by the end of it, you would find an improvement in your body if you face one or more of the toxic symptoms above. Trust me, this is so much easier than the juice detox I did previously. Why, it is as simple as drinking tea.




Meet TruDtox. It is a natural and organic herbal tea (certified by the Ministry of Health) that contains a proprietary blend of high quality herbs and floras that are traditionally used for aiding body detoxification and for strengthening our body’s detoxification organs. It will gently and safely help you detox – without any harsh laxatives and doesn't create any bowel dependency.


Some of the benefits you can achieve from TruDtox:

• Helps cleanse toxins and pollutants from your body
• Promote normal functions of your body’s detox organs
• Safe for regular continuous use
• No dependency (no laxatives involved)
• Improves digestion
• Improves overall health
• Promote regularity
• Relieve digestive discomforts
• Promote better absorption of nutrients
• Improve metabolism
• Strengthen immune system

Formulated by a Swiss nutraceutical company, TruDtox has been rigorously tested and qualified. I'm telling you this to dissipate any qualms you have about trying this product. I have personally tried it myself, and I'm sharing my experience.




MY EXPERIENCE WITH TRUDTOX
Upon receiving my pack of 17 tea bags, I started off by taking one tea bag a day, for 5 consecutive days. It is recommended that you take 2-3 tea bags a week, but as a kickstart, I started off big.

On the first day, I brewed my tea bag in a mug of hot water for 20-30 minutes as recommended, and slowly sipped my tea. I liked how it smells like those herbal chinese tea you sometimes get at the restaurants, it has quite the calming effect. It's not too strong either (unless you leave it to brew for a much longer time) and the taste has a very mild herbal flavor. I can even discern a slight floral taste that isn't very obvious, but pleasant.



I had a lot of water with my tea (because tea makes my mouth dry for some reason) and had to visit the toilet a few times within the first two hours, just to pee. I had the tea about 3pm, and about 7 hours later, around 10pm, was when I had to eliminate. Not to gross you out, but it was smooth and hassle free (true story!) and I felt quite good after. As it was my first day, I had to go 3 times that night – mostly liquids after the first round. This, my friends, is what you call a cleanse – everything ingested from the day has gone out the back door. And it feels good!

I woke up the next day feeling lighter and continued my tea routine after lunch each day. The tea helps with reducing bloatedness and indigestion, so I felt quite light and good even after a huge lunch.

I find that you can actually plan when you want to go to toilet for number two – because when I took the tea each day at 3pm, I have to go by 10pm, which is perfect because that's right before I start preparing for bed, and by 11pm I can sleep without any disturbance. I tried taking the tea once before bedtime, but was awakened at 9am on a weekend to use the bathroom. Not such a great idea... unless you plan to wake up early. Of course, results and timing would differ from person to person, so be open to experiment!

Now that the first week is over, I'm only taking the tea three times a week, and I love how the cleansing makes me feel. It's like a major clean-up inside, and you feel great and less like a fattysaurous, especially after a heavy meal. It does aid in some weight loss, and also helps maintain weight, but of course this would have to go hand-in-hand with a sensible diet and some exercise.

I'd definitely recommend you to give this a try, as I can see myself sticking to using this product for the long run. It is a life-changer! :)



P/S: As with all new products, no matter how safe, please try only one first before proceeding with a full-course detox. Please consult your doctor/physician if you aren't sure. I do not condone jumping head first into something if you have a medical condition.



To learn about the product, please visit www.trudtox.com 
TruDtox is available in all pharmacies nationwide and online in www.plincco.com , www.lazada.com.my, www.rakuten.com.my and www.hishop.my

After 6-days on the Lifestyle Juicery cleanse, I have survived!

Firstly, if you have no clue what I'm talking about, read about why I'm on this cleanse. Then come back here, and read about my review and experience, during this cleanse. From that post, I explained why I decided to embark on this journey, and the benefits you can reap from a cleanse.

Before we read about how I fare, let me introduce the Lifestyle Juicery juices that have been my buddies for the last 6 days.

#1 SEIZE THE DAY
A juice combination of carrot, orange, celery, pineapple, apple and parsley. I found this juice alright actually and I kind of liked it. Would have liked it more if I didn't dislike the taste of celery and parsley so much. But it was bearable because the carrot taste was the most dominant, and I'm fine with carrots. The orange and pineapple adds a bit of sweetness to this, which is why it tastes okay. I think they got the ratio of fruit & vege quite right in this one.


#2 MEAN GREEN
A juice combination of kale, spinach, cucumber, apple, lemon, broccoli and ginger. It tastes as mean as it sounds! The kale and spinach flavor is very, very dominant here. I had to struggle to chug this down. Maybe I'm just not used to drinking veggie juice, but this is definitely not my favorite. It can be likable I guess because it isn't nasty, it's just too green-tasting for my liking. After about 3 days in, you sort of just get used to it and chug it down like a boss. The faster it goes, the better you feel.


#3 ROOT FOR RED
A juice combination of beetroot, kale, carrot, apple and broccoli. This isn't too bad, if you're okay with beetroot. I'm on okay terms with this juice and it can be quite pleasant, especially when I'm really hungry. The only thing is, be really careful when opening the bottle, the juice will stain your clothes red.


#4 THE GREEN FACTOR
A juice combination of kale, spinach, cucumber, apple, lemon, pineapple and orange. This juice is also green, but it tastes alright. I think it's the mix of the fruits in this that evens out the strong taste of kale. By day three, I have already started liking this juice very much. If I had to pick a green juice, this is it!


#5 COCONUT GROOVE
A juice combination of coconut water and a cinnamon stick. My favorite juice of all time. I could drink coconut water all day, everyday. This juice works to rehydrate and provide electrolytes for your body. The cinnamon is just an added bonus for a slightly exotic flavor to the common coconut water. Love this!


#6 NUTS ABOUT NUTS
A juice combination of almond, cashew, pecan, cinnamon and vanilla bean. This isn't too bad, given the vanilla flavor that makes the almond taste pretty good. I had bad experiences with almond flavored drinks, so I was a little skeptical, but this is quite lovely. It is also the thickest juice, which will keep you full throughout the night.

HOW DO YOU START OFF?
Before starting a cleanse, you gotta eat clean. By clean, I mean all fruits and veggies, no meat or bread, pasta or even rice. And cutting out alcohol, sugar and caffeine (yes, no coffee!) completely is a must. It wasn't easy for a meat lover like me, but thankfully, fish is allowed so that was the main staple in my clean diet for 3 days, during the pre-cleanse period.



So basically, the juices will be delivered every two days for the duration of the cleanse. They are very professionally packed in a polystyrene box, and with every order you will be given a very convenient cooler bag and some reusable ice packs to enable you to carry your bottles around with ease. Didn't I tell you they have thought everything through for your convenience?






There will be daily emails and SMSes from the lovely people at Lifestyle Juicery to help you through the journey. The emails are mostly tips and things to do throughout the cleanse. I find that helpful because in times of weak-will, the emails will serve as a guide and motivation to plunge on. Some of the emails recommend spa pampering and skin brushing to help relax yourself and enhance the cleanse benefits.


Here I have a summary of my feelings and experiences from my journal. I recommend you to write in a journal to note down your feelings and how you feel about food, just so you can see how the cleanse has changed you.



DAY ONE & TWO
From my journal, you can see that day 1 & 2 was pretty alright, with very little hunger pangs, just the urge to munch, which I successfully curbed. I went to the toilet quite frequently during these two days, mostly to pee and to eliminate the solids I had during my pre-cleanse. I would strongly suggest you to stay put at home or in the confines of your office during these two days. Nature calls are quite frequent.

The good thing though, is that the elimination process is so smooth, there's no constipation at all. I felt so good right after! The hunger pangs are not really apparent, yet, so these two days were bliss.


DAY THREE
Was a bit of a challenge. Food presented itself as a pretty big temptation for me. Most of the solids I had during pre-cleanse were mostly already out of my system, and I am starting to feel that nagging hunger becoming more apparent. My stomach would literally growl at me whenever I am in between breaks from having juices. I took some tea and water to help sooth my tummy, but smelling someone's lunch in the office wasn't really helping. Even the last bottle of the day didn't help fill me up. It was a hard day.

I would like to highlight that I walked around for quite a bit in a mall, and I nearly fell over from dizziness after 2 hours of walking. So please, take it easy from day 3 onwards. There were also slight headaches, but as I am not a coffee drinker, it isn't too bad. Coffee drinkers beware, headaches might be bad from having a caffeine withdrawal. I suggest you start cutting down coffee a week before your cleanse.


DAY FOUR
I woke up hungry and this was probably the worst day out of the six. It's my hungriest day and fighting hunger pangs all day was hell. I couldn't stop thinking of food and my tummy's growling was like really loud throughout. If you have pets and when you forget to feed them, this was how it sounded like. There isn't much toilet business by now, so I was mostly trying to do my work and ignore my tummy. I couldn't even bring myself to go out for my morning jog.


DAY FIVE
Still feeling real hungry, but it is much more manageable, maybe cause my body has gotten used to it. The hunger is much easily satiated from drinking juices. I learnt that making chewing motions to 'chew the juice' eventhough there's nothing to chew; tricks your body into thinking that you're eating, and that helps with the hunger pangs.


DAY SIX
I feel great and I feel very clean, and empty. I'm also excited because it's the last day before I can have some real food. It's quite an invigorating feeling that leaves you feeling contented with life. My energy levels are coming back up, and I am excited to have some of those sweet jambus that my mom always buys, after all is said and done. After the cleanse though, there is another 3 days of clean eating called the post-cleanse days - to help ease your system back into accepting solid food. Don't go all out on that nasi lemak just yet.


In conclusion, this cleanse has been a journey that has its ups and downs. The downs being the hunger pangs - as I am not accustomed to feeling extreme hunger; and the ups being the great feeling of being cleaned from the inside, a better mentality towards food and just feeling healthier in general.

Mentally, a cleanse can help you rethink your eating lifestyles, and help you focus on starting a cleaner eating habit. After the cleanse now, I find that I am much more mindful of what I put into my mouth. No point going on a cleanse and end up botching up everything you have gone through, right? This is a great jump start to better eating and to start looking out for your health.

Physically, I lost about 2KGs from the cleanse, but that shouldn't be the main point of a cleanse. Gaining the experience and the refreshed mindset is what's more important. Physical changes though, are a bonus! I feel better, and I have to admit, excited to also finish the cleanse and finally eat something, even if it's just a piece of fruit! It's been a fun challenge and I enjoyed most of the ride (albeit battling hunger wasn't that much fun). I would say that this experience has encouraged me to go on a cleanse at least twice a year, just to get rid of some old cobwebs and keep my insides clean.

I have to also give props to the bottle design! The label is very well-designed and it states clearly what are in the juices you are drinking. I also love the fact that the bottles used are the sturdy type, not the flimsy plastic mineral water bottle - which makes it great for recycling in my home, to use as a water bottle or to store my own pressed juices.





WIN A VOUCHER TO KICK START YOUR CLEANSE!
If you are looking for a great start to a new eating lifestyle and a refresh to your digestive system, please give cleansing a try. As a start, I am giving out 5 vouchers, worth RM50 each to help you start off your first cleanse with Lifestyle Juicery. They have cleanse programs ranging at 4 days and 6 days; in different modes of silver, gold and platinum. Drop by their site and have a look to see which program suits you most.

To win an RM50 voucher for your first cleanse, head on to Lifestyle Juicery's Facebook page and click like, and comment on this post, with an answer to: 'Why would you like to embark on a juice cleanse?'

Please leave your FB name and email. Contest closes MAY 16th, 2014 at 12PM. Winners will be notified by email. :)


***UPDATE
The contest has closed! Winners, please check your inbox! For the rest of you, thank you for participating. :)

Hey guys, as some of you may already know, I am embarking on a wonderful cleanse program courtesy of the lovely people at Lifestyle Juicery. The most common questions I always get from friends and family who know about it, are: 'why are you doing this?', 'is it even healthy?' or 'does it help you lose weight?'


SO WHY AM I DOING THIS?
Because I feel very unhealthy – ever since chinese new year, up until when I was away at Australia and Cambodia, I have been eating a lot of unhealthy junk food (yummy junk, but still junk) and drinking quite a bit as well; and I can honestly feel my body slowly slugging down from all those toxins and crap I've ingested. It's terrible, but such a sinful indulgence I cannot help.

So yes, I have been very unhealthy (despite what my fitness section on this blog advocates) and although I enjoyed my holidays very much, it has taken a toll on my body. A lot of toxins; from the food I eat, the air I breathe and the chemicals I come in contact with – they are the reason for changes in my body and my weight. Therefore, a cleanse is definitely a top priority!


HOW DOES IT WORK?
The cleanse works with taking only fresh pressed juices each day, for either 4 or 6 days, depending on the program you choose. I'm embarking on the 6-day cleanse, which means 3 days before, I would have to eat clean. It must be a diet consisting of only fruits and veggies (fish is okay) and for the next 6 days, I will have 6 bottles of juice to get me through the day. Strictly no solids allowed in this duration.



The juices will be taken in this order, about 2 hours (or more) in between each bottle. These are the flavors available, and as you can tell, my favorite is definitely the Coconut Groove. :) Most of the produce used are organic, and are all skinned before they go for pressing.



BUT, IS IT EVEN HEALTHY?
Yes it is! Let me explain. Juice cleansing is NOT about losing weight, although you are bound to lose a little. That's not the point though. The point is, a cleanse is to first and foremost, cleanse the system by allowing it to take a break. Your digestive systems are always working on breaking down all that solid food you're eating - from the day you, as a toddler start eating solids; and ever since it has NOT had a break. The cleanse is liquid-based, and that allows your digestive systems to rest from having to break down anything.

Another main thing to remember that this cleanse is NOT designed to starve yourself skinny! The people at Lifestyle Juicery have got it down, where each of your daily juices have your daily caloric needs that consist of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Your body will get a flow or nutrient-rich enzymes from raw, pressed veggies and fruits – even nuts, that will go directly into your bloodstream as your body does not need to bother digesting them. Think bite-sized!

Mentally, a cleanse is supposed to aid you in kick-starting a healthier eating lifestyle. You will be more aware to your body's nutritional needs and might think twice about eating fried chicken ever again, who knows?


ANY OTHER BENEFITS?
As I am only on Day 1 of my cleanse, it's hard to tell you that yet – I am still fighting the urge to nibble on a cookie. But according to Lifestyle Juicery, benefits include:

• Increased energy and stamina 
• Feeling light and rejuvenated 
• Increased mental clarity and focus 
• Better sleep patterns 
• Radiant complexion, stronger hair and nails 
• Improved mood and more positive outlooks on life 
• Improved digestion 
• Decreased cravings for junk food and sugar 
• Improved blood circulation and blood pressure

My sugar cravings are still intact for the time being, but there has been quite a couple of bowel movements for Day 1, and that is only after juice number two.



WHY DON'T YOU JUST MAKE YOUR OWN JUICE AT HOME?
I would, if I had the time to buy, peel and juice everything each time I need to drink it. The problem with the conventional household juicers is that they are usually motorized, which causes heat that oxidizes the nutrients – leaving you with less juice and even lesser nutrients. It also means you cannot prepare your juices ahead of time, as they will then need to be drunk immediately after making them. Cold-pressed juicer machines are better, but also very expensive.

At Lifestyle Juicery, all juices are pressed with a specially designed hydraulic-press that exerts up to 50 tons of pressure, unlike our household ones, which results in juice that is of extremely fine quality. As this method does not force air or heat into the juice during pressing, the juice can be kept bottled and sealed for a few days in a fridge without oxidization, decay or loss of color and nutrients. Aside from that, it is also the convenience of having the juices all bottled (and numbered!), delivered every 2 days to your doorstep; with a complimentary cooler bag to allow you to bring your juices out on the go. I'd say it's worth the price for all the hassle you do not have to go through.





I know this is probably not enough to convince you yet, but in a weeks' time, once I'm done with my cleanse, you can read all about my experience and decide whether this is right for you. Until then, keep watching this space! :)


*** UPDATE
Read all about my juice cleanse experience! :)